Myth: travelling is an expensive affair. Reality: you can travel the world in a budget. And when there are long weekends you feel the bite of the travel bug or the itch to bunk college. The only thing that limits you from packing your bags and taking off to an obscure place is your budget. Hear! hear! We have jotted down 5 backpacking trips that you can take within 10,000 while you are in college.

The Allure of the Backwaters

The backwaters in God’s own country has been a dream destination for many. You do not need to postpone your trip thinking about expenses, because a short tour to Alleppey is possible. For a 2 night/3 day stay, the cost can vary between Rs 250 to Rs 700 a day. And if you are planning to stay in a houseboat, it starts from Rs 6000 per day for 1 BHK which includes 3 meals. You can easily split it with your friends. All you need to do is enjoy the verdant countryside, waterways and the lagoons.

A trek through Kasauli

If you are an adventure enthusiast, then a trek through Kasauli should be in your list of must-dos. The most cost effective way to reach Kasauli is to board a train from Delhi to Kasauli. Then you can take a shared taxi to reach your destination. It will take less than Rs 1500 to reach Kasauli. Opt for pocket-friendly hotels where you will get the accommodation within Rs 1000. A 3-day trip will cost less than 5000, so you will be left with a lot of money to splurge on the trip.

Go for Goa

Goa is definitely every backpacker’s dream destination. Plan a short trip for 3 days; board a train from Margao from Mumbai which is a cost-effective option. You will be glad to know that beach accommodation starts at Rs 500 a night. Of course, you will be spoilt for choices as Goa boasts some of the best restaurants in the country with an eclectic mix of cuisine, but to stick to your budget opt for the beach shacks. A good seafood meal will cost you Rs 150. Opt for bike rentals; it starts from Rs 250 and can go up to Rs 500 a day. There are so many things to explore in Goa; the beaches, Portuguese architecture and the local markets.

River rafting at Rishikesh

Rishikesh is not just for the spiritually inclined; it is also very much for the adventure junkies. If you are one of those who are looking for an adrenalin rush, river rafting at Rishikesh is just the kind of activity for you. You might want to stay there for 2 days. Take a shared taxi from Delhi which will cost you around 500. Share a tent with someone which will cost about Rs 150 per day; food is also quite inexpensive. Depending on your service provider river rafting will cost between Rs 400 to Rs 1300. Want to be more adventurous? Opt for beach camping which will cost up to Rs 1600 per person which includes 1 night stay, river rafting and 3 meals. If you want to experience white water rafting, Rishikesh is the place to be.

Hampi for the History Buffs

Hampi is a fabulous treat for history lovers and unlike popular belief it is one of the inexpensive destinations in India. Relive the golden era of the Vijaynagar dynasty. Board a train from Bangalore to Hospet which will cost you Rs 300. If you are taking an auto to Hampi, you need to pay Rs 100. The homestays are pretty inexpensive and some of them also include meals. It varies between Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per day. If you are taking a tonga to ruin sites, it will cost Rs 100. A 3 day trip to Hampi can be easily accomplished within Rs 10,000.

Forrest Gump is a movie lover’s delight. It is one of the most entertaining and successful movies of all times, not only because it featured one of the brilliant talents of Hollywood Tom Hanks. The storyline was simple; it depicts the life of Forrest Gump, an ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. Not because some magic has happened because of a sudden stroke of luck. It was the way Forrest has lived his life which teaches us 5 crucial lessons.

The Chocolate Box

One of the iconic symbols of this movie was a chocolate box followed by a famous dialogue by Forrest himself “life is like a box of chocolates…ya never know what you’re gonna get”. It is a simple way of telling that we all have the freedom to make our own choices in life. Throughout his life Forrest has made many important choices and has taken responsibility for all the choices that he have made. He embraced life’s uncertainty and Forrest showed us that it takes gumption to take personal responsibility for all the actions in life.

Words can Cause a Scar in Life

One of the most emotional moments in the movie is when Jenny rejects Forrest’s marriage proposal because she finds him dumb. Although it hurts Forrest a lot, he accepts the rejection with dignity and displays sheer intelligence by stating “I am not a smart man but I know what love is”. Words can cause deep wounds and permanent scars. Not everyone is resolute like Forrest who shows that if you fall in love, you should have the decency of rising in love as well.

The Nike Sneakers

Among a few cherished gifts in Forrest’s life, the pair of sneakers presented by Jenny was of supreme importance. The shoes symbolize the journey of life; it shows that you never actually arrive in life, you just need to go with the flow. One can persevere, but still enjoy the various moments of life; learning to enjoy the journey is your key to happiness.

Listen to your heart

Forrest has always listened to his instincts, even when it meant trouble for him. Life is unpredictable so often when you plan a lot of things, you end up going nowhere. Your gut instincts will show you the right way. Like Lieutenant Dan will be forever grateful for Forrest’s heroic actions to save him. Even when everyone tells you to do otherwise, just listen to your heart.

Never allow you past to dictate your future

The film is all about beautiful quotes: “My mama always said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on’ is one of them. This quote lovingly points out one of the important aspects of life; you cannot allow your past to determine your future. Live in the present and believe in the art of now. Be strong and determined and do what it takes to achieve the things you truly want from life.

If you have not seen the movie yet, it is time to watch this iconic movie starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Myketi Williamson, Rebecca Williams.

In the past 5 years, Indian economy has seen a lot of ups and downs; from the shock of demonetization to the landmark GST implementation, Indian economy has seen it all. The year 2018 becomes all the more important for Indian stock markets as the country prepares for election in 2019. Let’s take a look at the three landmark events which have impacted Indian economy.

Demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes

In the year 2016 on November 8th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced his decision to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes to initiate a crack down on black money. As a replacement, the government issued new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 rupee notes. In the next few weeks, RBI introduced quite a few rules associated with withdrawal limit, money exchange and deposits. Raids were conducted and the national banks were scrutinized. According to many, it was one of the boldest financial reforms and the government claimed that it would bring long-term benefits. The response of demonetization was mixed as many questioned about the effectiveness of this event.

The Passing of the GST Bill

In a unanimous decision, Rajya Sabha approved the 122nd Constitutional amendment to turn Good and Services Tax into law. Before GST, most businesses had to pay 3 different taxes – VAT, excise and service tax. With the implementation of GST, there was uniform taxation across the country. With this reform, the big enterprises attained the same footing with SMEs. The entire idea of GST was to simplify the tax complications of the entire economy. All services provided by the educational institutions both schools and colleges are exempted from GST. Along with healthcare, this is one sector which has been put within minimum or zero tax bracket.

The Frauds in the Banking Sector

The Indian banking sector has lost about Rs 18, 170 crores in forgery in the financial year 2017-18. Some of the top banks like PNB, Bank of Maharashtra, HDFC and ICICI faced a large number of frauds. This completely altered the face of the economy and called for an urgent requirement to tighten the internal financial controls. Most importantly, there was a call for better audits; the process gaps need to be addressed and emphasis was put on continuous rationalization checks and balances.

The next year is expected to be peppered by political anxiety due to various state elections in 2018 and general elections in 2019. The economy will remain jittery due to surge in global oil prices . Only time can tell how India plans to cope with these external pressures.

One should not make any mistake about it; a loved and recognizable brand is definitely one of the most valuable assets of a company. And branding is more than just a cool logo or a good advertisement. Let’s find out how the top 5 branding gurus in India have done it with some of the amazing campaigns.

Piyush Pandey: The Man Behind the Dancing Girl at the Cricket Field

The ad industry’s favourite man with a moustache Piyush Pandey has captured the heart of the nation in the 1990’s. When he first arrived, the world of advertisement was a drab one. But then satellite TV happened and more clients were interested in television advertising. Pandey has always believed in storytelling and among his many successful ventures was the Cadbury advertisement. Not many know, but the Cadbury ad with the girl on a cricket pitch was one of the first ads where he wrote the lyrics and recorded a full-fledged song with jazzman Louis Banks. And the girl Shimona who was cast could not even dance! It won ‘The Campaign of the Century’ at the Advertising Club Bombay’s Abby Awards.

R Balakrishnan and how he showed ‘Daag Acche Hain’

You have marveled at some of his cinematic creations at ‘Pa’, ‘Cheeni Kum’, ‘Padman’, but not many of us know that Balki had a successful advertisement stint at MullenLowe Lintas Group. In his own words, ‘storytelling happened, because nothing else happened’. The challenge for him was to bring out ideas day after day for different products. And his Surf Excel’s campaign ‘Daag Acche hain’ became viral in mid-2000s. Mostly featuring kids, these ads focused on the idea of helping others or making someone smile even when they are spoiling the clothes. The campaign was ‘Jaise Bhi Daag Ho, Surf Excel Hain Na’.

Prasoon Joshi and how he made everyone realize ‘Thanda Matlab Coca Cola’

When Prasoon Joshi joined McCann Ericksson, the agency was not known for his creative excellence; his first challenge was to change the perception of Coke from a song-and-dance driven communicator to a storyteller and the idea ‘Thanda Matlab Coca Cola’ was born. Consumer never look at advertising at silos, they look at it in a holistic manner. Joshi used a clever twist to two very common lingos ‘Kuch thanda lenge yaa garam?’ and the typical announcement of the hawkers in train stations ‘thanda thanda’. The idea was to position Coca Cola as a cool refreshing drink for the youth. And when you crave for something ‘thanda’ or cool, the immediate word that comes to the mind is Coca Cola. The series conceptualized by Prasoon dissolved boundaries and placed Coca Cola as ‘ a drink for everyone’.

Prahlad Kakkar: The Man who showed that branding is all about taking risks

Whenever you see a Pepsi ad, remember that there is only one man behind it. He is no one other than Prahlad Kakkar. The only propelling factor that has kept him passionate about ads is that he can never get enough of telling a story in 30 seconds in the most engaging manner. It was and still remains one of the effective ways to reach out to the masses. Who can dispute the fact that Pepsi is still ‘the right choice baby aha’. Bold, candid and often outrageous, Kakkar is all about taking risks. Be it a Kit Kat, Maggi or a Dhara, Kakkar has always come up with something new.

Sam Balsara

Sam Balsara turned 67 this year, but he still has the passion of a youngster. For him, safe advertising is a mistake. With over 30 years of experience in the advertising industry, the Founder, Chairman & the Director of the Madison World Sam Balsara has worked in one of the most influential political campaigns in India. He has worked with the Modi team and has come up with some brilliant ideas about Narendra Modi in his electoral campaign.

While choosing a marketing project, it is imperative that you decide on what you want to become after five years. It is almost like a self-analysis which you need to do to determine your career path. Do you want to become a Marketing Specialist, Digital Marketer, Marketing Researcher, Analyst, Communication Specialist or a Web Analytics Person? Take up a project which depends on the kind of role you are going to take. Here are some of the topics that you can choose for your marketing projects.

Topic which is relevant for digital transformation

Currently we are witnessing the digital transition; a project which will combine the fundamentals of web development, marketing with the digital world as a vehicle will be appropriate. Ask any student of a best-rated MBA college and they will tell you that each and every topic in digital marketing will be interesting: you can do your project related to SMM, SEO, Analytics, Email Marketing or anything related to Display Medium.

Topic which is related to customer behaviour analysis/customer management

Those who are specializing in marketing in MBA, can choose a topic related to customer behaviour analysis or customer management. Students at one of the top 5 MBA colleges in Kolkata will tell you that marketing is more than creating just a jingle or a catchy line. You need to understand consumer behaviour as well. You can do a project on various consumer behaviour models: you can prepare a project on black-box model which emphasizes on the external stimulus response of a customer. You can talk about the personal-variable model or the complex model where the consumer considers both internal and external factors before buying anything.

Topic which is related to market potential of a particular product

All companies will agree that one has to know about the market potential before launching or relaunching a product. You can prepare a project where you can examine a proper method to analyze the market. To determine the market potential of a market, you need to do proper market research; you need to analyze your potential customer base, current environmental conditions, and your competition.

Topic which is associated with analysis of various market segments

Are you good with fieldwork? Do you have an aptitude for studying figures and long reports? Then you can think about a topic which can be an analysis of different market segments. Segmentation is all about identifying various group of buyers in a market to target specific services or products for each group. You can do a project on how companies can tailor or customize the offering for various groups. The idea of segmentation mostly starts with research and market analysis; often this topic involves detailed research, so be prepared to study a lot.

Topic about how you can create brand awareness

Most companies look for a suitable marketing strategy which will help to create brand awareness. Marketing students have to be good at two things: analysis and strategy. If you are good with strategizing, then you can create a project which can be a detailed roadmap about a specific product or service. Your project or report should be a detailed study about how you can build your brand.

Want to join one of the leading business schools in Kolkata? Take a look at https://www.bibs.co.in/.

When you choose a career in finance, you are expected to find effective ways to manage the finances of the company, create wealth and increase the net asset of the organization. Most finance majors should be prepared to study topics which include planning, raising funds for the company, making wise investments and controlling the expenses of the company. Finance majors are expected to be experts in when it comes to critical decision-making which are often crucial for companies. Choose your courses carefully; apart from the regular finance degree curricular, one should study the following subjects.

Mathematics

If you have already taken courses in calculus and algebra in college, it will help you to solve equations in complex financial markets. A course in statistics will be beneficial as the subject helps to take crucial decisions based on likely outcomes. Thorough knowledge of the subject helps the finance students to know about the movement of a company’s stocks and how they can be better allocated.

Economics\

Knowledge in microeconomics will allow the finance students to understand the impact of the activities of the financial market; you will be able to understand how the activities influence the overall market economy. You get to study the behaviors that normally happen within firms and among customers. Your knowledge in Economics will help you to understand how and when financial decisions can impact firm’s success.

Communications

Any communication course such as presentation skills or public speaking can help the finance students to not only present the finance reports, but explain the meanings behind the numbers and equations. A good leader should be capable of delegating responsibilities to employees; most business students, a Finance major in particular need courses in crisis communications, corporate communications and public relation strategies.

Corporate Finance

Corporate finance is all about understanding the financial problems of an organization beforehand and prevent them. In case of any mergers and acquisitions, a concerned finance analyst should have knowledge about corporate finance. Capital investments are an integral part of corporate finance; decisions like whether dividends should be offered to shareholders or not, or a proposed investment option should be accepted or rejected can be taken without any hassle if you have knowledge about corporate finance.

Accounting

Although it is said that accounting has a narrow focus, it is important to take it as a subject if you are planning a Finance major. With knowledge in accounting, it is possible to focus on both past records and present reports; the creation and analysis of these records often become crucial for financial decisions for an organization.

Take a look at the courses offered at one of the major B schools in Kolkata. Click https://www.bibs.co.in/ for more details.

There are over 467 million members in LinkedIn and it is a growing network: do you think it is easy to stand out? A complete profile with good connections and a list of accomplishments may not be enough to grab the attention of the recruiters. Here are 5 creative ways to make a good impression after acquiring a degree from a reputed management college in Kolkata.

Go for a descriptive headline: use specific words

Use strategic keywords for your LinkedIn profile which will attract the right kind of connections. You have to proactively edit your headline; otherwise your current company and title will be displayed by default. This is not the kind of branding that you look for, as it will brand your company and not you. Include details such as functional expertise or your industry. The description should be such so that anyone can fathom things about you with a quick read. Like Manager of Sales is how you excel, more specific would be Manager of Sales, Digital Marketing and Social Media. This small addition will expand your network and help you to reach out to prospective employers.

Are you using the Plugins effectively?

Often simple things like plugins on LinkedIn are overlooked. Did you know that LinkedIn allows its members to include the LinkedIn function in websites? A customized JavaScript code is generated for a number of interesting features which ranges from your followers to a list of new job listings. The Follow plugin is extremely useful for websites as it allows the visitors to add you to their LinkedIn profile with one click. In case of business, the Company Profile plugin offers a reliable summary of the business. This appropriately-sized widget is a quick way to get new readers and enhances the scope of business.

See if the career chronology matches your resume

When you list a job on your resume, you need to list it in your LinkedIn profile as well. In case you want a complete career chronology in LinkedIn, match it with your resume to ensure consistency. Include all your previous employments in your LinkedIn profile: it definitely improves your chances of appearing more in searches by both people who wish to network with you and recruiters.

Did you know that you can personalize your LinkedIn URL?

Did you know that you can actually customize the LinkedIn URL attached to the profile to make it in your name? Your URL will appear more personalized instead of a set of random letters and numbers. This is a significant touch which has a few advantages: when shared with your recruiter, your profile looks clean. Once you include the customized URL to your email signature, it essentially reinforces your brand.

Emphasize on the summary

A summary which highlights the background with searchable keywords is a good start; you can maximize the summary further with a standalone description. You can play around with the tone of storytelling: often a more casual tone emphasizing on your career expertise can be really helpful. Add a tone of interest by including not just the current role, but list your personal accomplishments and key skills to round out the background.

Eager to know more about a business school which can accelerate your career? Take a look at https://www.bibs.co.in/.

A recent news flash: an Army Major who has served the Indian Army for the past 17 years decides to go for an MBA program in business school where he surprisingly finds a retired IG of Police among a bunch of 23-year olds. As choices and needs triumph over stereotypes, we find more and more professionals opting for business ‘school’ after considerable work experience. Like most IT professionals feel the need of an MBA degree as it helps them to support the business goals of an enterprise. The IT leaders who mostly report directly to the CEO or CFO supervise critical projects. Seeking an advanced business degree is a good option in this regard. Let’s see how an MBA can boost your IT career.

Think about the value of a MBA degree

After you receive your MBA degree you will be widely recognized as an IT wizard and a business expert. You will find yourself in equal footing with various C-level executives: your opinions and insights will be invaluable for your business. According to experts, an MBA degree helps an IT leader to understand the requirements of business and come up with solutions which will be beneficial for business in the long run.

A degree which works as an effective career management tool

An MBA degree definitely impacts the employment trajectory of an IT professional. When it comes to recruitment in senior levels in an organization, a IT guy with an MBA degree is always preferred. An MBA degree adds to the broader skill sets of a tech-savvy guy; moreover it opens doors of opportunities for candidates. With an MBA degree, you get a coveted position in your desired organization. Even when you think about working in a start-up, a degree in management will come handy. Think about jobs for MBA in Kolkata, and you will find most candidates acquire the MBA degree to seek better opportunity.

Learn about important analytical and business skills

Things that you will learn while pursuing a management degree will help you in day-to-day activities. You will have valuable knowledge about strategy, accounting, finance and this knowledge will prepare you for a new role with greater responsibilities. Added to this, one has to remember that digital transformation is actually forcing IT professionals to look deeper into the needs and requirements of your business partner. The combination of business skills and soft skills is enviable and helps an organization to prosper: a professional equipped with both will be considered as a asset.

Greater satisfaction in terms of income

It is an undeniable fact that once you choose the right management course in Kolkata, you will be better positioned post management. A better position equals good pay package. Most IT professionals use MBA as the springboard for senior-level roles which have higher income potential. Experience will definitely give you a leverage: but a professional degree will take you further.

A degree which shows that you are committed to profession

Most decision-makers are impressed with the idea of a person who is gutsy enough to pursue higher education after gathering work experience. There is a great deal of respect for individuals who do the hard work to obtain a management degree while juggling job and other responsibilities. This shows that you are committed to your profession.

Want to know more about a business school which can make a difference to your professional career? Check out https://www.bibs.co.in/.

Can an MBA make a difference for a PR job? This is a question often asked by numerous PR professionals. An MBA degree offers unmatched networking opportunities; in a crazy competitive world, an MBA degree will help you to have leverage as compared to your peers and competitors. Still not convinced? Take a look at some of the benefits of having an MBA degree if you are holding a PR job.

Helps you to acquire analytical and critical thinking

Often PR professionals have a lack of understanding of business goals; an MBA degree helps to drill business goals in a PR person. This degree will help you think beyond the usual metrics of the business world and get a broader picture of how business functions. Most PR professionals have entertained the thought of running their own business, consultancy or agency. Other than your PR skills, you should have the skills to read a balance sheet, manage change, think about the operational expenses, and have sound HR policies. You can learn all these on the job; but an MBA degree will help you to acquire the expertise in a short time.

Helps you to grow your network

An oft-mentioned benefit of having an MBA degree is that it helps you to have a solid network. Now you may argue that even a non-MBA person has a huge network but it will be nothing as compared to what you might have after you enroll in a prestigious business school. With a solid network, one can chance upon PR-specific business opportunities which might not happen otherwise. Talk to people who have already made the leap from the communications field to MBA and you will know about the endless possibilities. Those who are not willing to start their own business can go for management positions after an MBA course, which might be a difficult to achieve otherwise.

Helps to understand your life goals

Those who plan to continue with an agency should rethink about an MBA degree. Most agencies hire creative problem solvers; but on the corporate side higher-education and MBA degrees are known as qualifiers for senior-level management positions. You will hardly find anyone in a senior leader position without a management degree. Those who want a senior position in the corporate world should and must go for the MBA degree.

Think about all these pointers and try to get an MBA degree when you still can. There are greater and better career opportunities waiting for you to be explored.

There was a time when human resources were primarily known as ‘paper pushers’; they were mainly considered as the document keepers in the organization. HR departments these days are extremely dynamic and they play a vital role in the talent development strategy of any business. Although an HR may wear different hats these days, the department still remains obligated to one of the most valuable assets of an organization: its people. If you are starting a career in HR after pursuing an MBA degree, these are some of the functions you will be expected to perform.

HR Leaders are the best Solution Providers

Some of the best and most impressive HR leaders are known to solve not only business goals, but are driven by a basic desire to positively impact the lives of the employees of an organization. An HR leader can definitely help in the business by driving change with both data and passion. Most people choose a career in HR precisely because this department gives them an opportunity to influence various aspects of an organization. When it comes to company policy, an HR manager is definitely one of the effective decision-makers in the company.

HR Leaders are Knowledgeable about the Core Business

HR managers who work in a business unit which supports the core business of a company should definitely know everything about the business. As you learn your own responsibilities in an organization, you should also learn about all the nitty-grittys of business. If your company is a small and growing at a fast, often it becomes extremely difficult to stay on top of everything. As a HR manager, your capability lies in understanding the employee psychology and how it can be aligned with organizational goals. Of course, there are some things that you can do to maintain employee satisfaction and company culture. You can start a small reward program where employees are recognized for their contribution to the company. How do you resolve a conflict situation? It can become difficult to define everything in a fast-growing organization. The process of resolving a conflict or the procedure of collaboration will definitely differ and vary. Effective communication might be the key.

HR Leaders Foster Transparent Internal Communications

How can an HR leader ensure that communication is mostly transparent and always done on time, especially when it is crisis communication? Good news travel fast, so if the company is doing well or there have been some positive changes in the organization, your employees will get to know that even before the news bulletin is out. When it comes to communicating bad news or any type of change, the best way to do it is go for honest communication in due time. This information should reach those people who are going to be directly affected by this change. A good HR leader never underestimates the fact that honest information shared in due time can save the day.